Jeremy Reed

The Angels will name Jeremy Reed their new hitting coach, reports Fancred’s Jon Heyman (on Twitter).

A former big league outfielder who spent parts of eight seasons in the Major Leagues, Reed will receive his first big league coaching appointment as the Halos’ new hitting coach. Reed, who replaces Eric Hinske in that capacity, was the Angels’ minor league hitting coordinator for the past two seasons. Prior to that, he held that role with the Brewers from 2014-16. He’s a known commodity for general manager Billy Eppler, who hired Reed two offseasons ago, and for newly minted manager Brad Ausmus, who undoubtedly worked with Reed to some extent while serving as a special advisor to Eppler this past season.

Hinske’s tenure as the Angels’ hitting coach will last just one season — he was hired on Oct. 23 a year ago — though it’s hardly uncommon for new managers to overhaul the coaching staff upon taking over.

Reed had signed a minor league deal with the Brewers in January. He made the Opening Day roster, but went hitless in seven plate appearances and was designated for assignment. He later cleared waivers and accepted a Triple-A assignment. The 29-year-old former top prospect was hitting .233/.310/.350 in 118 plate appearances for the Nashville Sounds, playing mostly at the outfield corners.

According to another Christensen tweet, there is "strong speculation" that Reed will take the place of infielder/outfielder Brian Dinkelman, who could have his contract purchased by the Twins tonight. Earlier, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire indicated to Kelsie Smith of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the Twins would call up a left-handed hitter, one who would have to be added to the 40-man roster (Twitter link). Smith notes that a spot could be opened by transferring catcher Joe Mauer to the 60-day DL. Jason Kubel, Jim Thome, and Tsuyoshi Nishioka are the other Twins bats currently on the disabled list.

MONDAY: The Brewers designated outfielder Jeremy Reed for assignment, the team announced today. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy was reinstated from the DL in a corresponding move, and the team's 40-man roster stands at 39.

Reed, a former top prospect, turns 30 in June. He made the Opening Day roster as a pinch-hitter after a strong spring, but was hitless in seven regular season plate appearances. Talking to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Brewers GM Doug Melvin explained the choice to cut Reed and go with three catchers for the time being. The GM also noted that Reed has until Wednesday to tell the team whether he'll declare free agency.

The Brewers will have a tough decision to make when Corey Hart returns from the DL, as catchers George Kottaras and Wil Nieves are out of options and Haudricourt says one of them could be on the bubble.

The Brewers announced that they signed Jeremy Reed to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

The 29-year-old appeared in 14 games for the Blue Jays last year, but spent most of the season at Triple-A. He hit .279/.342/.412 in 358 plate appearances for Blue Jays and White Sox affiliates last year. The center fielder is no stranger to the major leagues, though. He has appeared in at least 13 games every season since 2004, when he broke in with the Mariners.

Reed, 29, signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays in January. He elected free agency after being outrighted earlier this month. Reed has come full circle since being ranked the 25th-best prospect in baseball as a member of the Knights heading into the 2004 season. He was traded to the Mariners in June of that year as the centerpiece in the Freddy Garcia deal. Reed hasn't hit as expected in his big league career, but he has been able to handle center field.

The Blue Jays outrighted Jeremy Reed to create space on their 40-man roster and the utilityman refused the assignment and elected free agency, according to the team (via Twitter). Reed, 29, picked up three hits in 21 at bats for the Jays this year, walking twice and hitting one home run. He played left, right and first base, though most of his MLB experience has come in center field.

The Astros signed outfielder Cory Sullivan to a minor league deal, tweets Alyson Footer. Sullivan, 30, hit .250/.338/.382 for the Mets in 157 plate appearances last year while mainly playing left field. He also tallied a .290/.352/.367 line in 320 PAs for the Mets' Triple A affiliate. Sullivan was non-tendered on the December 12th deadline.

Also, in case you missed it, Jeremy Reed signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays yesterday. Like Sullivan, Reed played outfield for the '09 Mets and was non-tendered in December. The 28-year-old hit .242/.301/.304 in 177 plate appearances for the big club, playing all three outfield positions and even a little first base. Before the 2004 season, Baseball America ranked Reed the 25th best prospect in the game.

Ed Price of AOL FanHouse has a list of salary figures exchanged by players and their teams at today's arbitration filing deadline.

MLB.com's Adam McCalvy breaks down the exchanged figures and the situations of the Brewers' remaining arbitration-eligible players.

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com says the Blue Jays' payroll "will probably be in the $60-63MM range" next season, down from a previously reported figure of $80MM. Toronto's payroll, however, is "really a fluid number" according to Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.

Morosi tweets that Joe Blanton filed for $10.25MM in arbitration today, but the Phillies countered with $7.5MM.

Ed Price of AOL FanHouse (via Twitter) spoke to a scout who saw Ben Sheets' throwing session today. "He threw very well. He threw easy," said the scout, who guessed that Mets, Cubs, and Rangers were the leaders for his services.

The Rays and B.J. Upton did not reach a deal today, and his agent indicated that the two sides will head to an arbitration hearing according to Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times (via Twitter). He later tweets that they may be just $300K apart.

Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com reports that the Cubs, Cardinals, and Dodgers are monitoring free agent lefty Mark Mulder. Late last week we learned that the Brewers were going to wait before deciding whether or not to offer Mulder a deal.

The Blue Jays have signed outfielder Jeremy Reed and righty Steven Register to minor league deals with invitations to Spring Training according to a team press release.

MLB.com's Ken Gurnick tweets that the Dodgers have signed catcher J.D. Closser to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. The former top Rockies' prospect last appeared in the big leagues back in 2006.

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick penned a must-read on how Jack Zduriencik has transformed the Mariners in his short time at the helm.

SI.com's Tom Verducci took a look at the most efficient teams of the last decade. The Marlins, Athletics, and Rays highlight the best, while the Mets were among the least efficient.

A couple of Fish-related tidbits from the land of Dwyane Wade and Dexter Morgan tonight….

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Marlins have made finding relief pitching a priority over replacing Ross Gload. Jackson mentioned Adam Kennedy and Jeremy Reed as left-handed hitters "mentioned in informal talks" that Florida might be interested in signing once they take care of their bullpen.